Probable cause
The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent collapse of the nose landing gear strut.
NTSB analysis
During the landing flare for a full-stop landing, the airplane touched down hard, and bounced into the air. The student pilot attempted to arrest the descent, but the airplane's nose wheel hit the runway surface with sufficient force to collapse the nose gear strut and to damage the firewall.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA430 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 31, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Merced, California
- Nearest airport
- Merced/Castle (MER)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N5155B
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.